Birmingham, 28 September 2025 – Today was an extraordinary day for our project as we took to the stage at the Birmingham Mid-Autumn Festival 2025, presenting a scratch performance of Ian Henery’s Birmingham Chinese Community Play. With more than 1,500 people in attendance across the Birmingham Conference & Events Centre and Ming Moon Restaurant, the atmosphere was electric and the response has been nothing short of inspiring.

The play was directed and project managed by Dr Ranjit Khutan, Director of Bright Red Creative Solutions Ltd and an  Education, Research & Management Consultant.  He is also an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and author, with works featured across stage, television and film.  Dr Ranjit Khutan is an Ambassador for The Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.  

Funded by Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants, this project is more than just a play. It is a living archive of the Birmingham Chinese community’s stories. Through workshops, script development, and performance, we are capturing the voices of those who migrated here in the 1950s, their struggles with prejudice, their resilience, and their role in building modern Birmingham and Chinatown.

Today’s performances revealed just how powerful these stories are. Audiences were visibly moved, with many staying behind afterwards to share their own memories and reflections on camera. These conversations, emotional, honest, and deeply personal, show the lasting impact of the work we are doing. For many, this was the first time they had seen their history represented on stage.

Our talented cast, Irene Henery, Chi Lam, Susan Vickers, Amie J. Lilac, Bill Heeks, Luke Dalton, Sundari Maheswaran and Reena Jaisiah, Artistic Director of Casteway Arts, brought these stories to life with passion and authenticity. We were also proud to welcome Sarah Jane Pugh, whose background in theatre and performance has been an incredible support to the project. Together, the ensemble gave a performance that was not only artistically strong but also a catalyst for dialogue.

The impact could be felt in the buzz around the venues. At Ming Moon in particular, the atmosphere was alive with conversation, laughter, and reflection as community members of all ages engaged with the play’s themes of migration, belonging, and identity. Young people especially connected with the material, demonstrating that these stories resonate across generations.

And this is only the beginning. With the continued support of Arts Council England, the project will grow through further workshops, script development, and a filmed scratch performance at Birmingham Hippodrome in February 2026. Our ultimate aim is to deliver a full-scale production that amplifies the voices of Birmingham’s Chinese and East Asian communities while challenging stereotypes and sparking meaningful dialogue nationwide.

For those who want to relive the magic of today and hear the voices of the community for themselves, we are sharing audience interviews and behind-the-scenes content on our social media channels. Follow us on Facebook here and on Instagram here to join the conversation.

Today proved that theatre has the power to unite, to heal, and to celebrate heritage. This project is not just about telling stories. It is about creating a space where the community can see themselves, their families, and their history reflected on stage, and where audiences from all backgrounds can share in that journey.

We thank Arts Council England for their generous support in making this project possible.